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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Paz, what philosophical fact defines much of Mexico's history?
(a) They had only two great thinkers.
(b) The people adopted some ideas and invented others.
(c) The people adopted ideas, but did not invent their own.
(d) They overturned several of Spain's philosophical treatises.

2. What was one factor that guided the Revolution to prioritize tradition?
(a) The large number of supporters over the age of 50.
(b) The workers did not belong to the city or the country, and so they did not have any tradition.
(c) Its fear of the future.
(d) Its belief in the value of the past.

3. How did Paz see the 20th Century?
(a) A time when dictators took more power than ever before.
(b) A time when feudalism was finally thrown off.
(c) A time when the common man asserted himself.
(d) A time when all historical eras mingled and merged.

4. Who were the last people to enter the Valley of Mexico?
(a) Aztecs.
(b) Spaniards.
(c) Mexicans.
(d) Nahuatls.

5. Why does poetry tend to eradicate history? (Chapter Seven).
(a) Because it does not understand history.
(b) Because it disdains history.
(c) Because it attempts to explicate history.
(d) Because it transcends history.

6. According to the tribe of the Chamulas, what is a chulel?
(a) The prayer of deliverance uttered by a warrior.
(b) The tribute paid to a god.
(c) The imposition of Catholic beliefs over their native religion.
(d) A human soul residing in an animal.

7. In Jose Gaos' thought, what unique opportunity do young people have through their education?
(a) Creating their own philosophy.
(b) Rebuilding their political system.
(c) Modifying Spanish to meet the needs of the South Americans.
(d) Moving Mexico into the world sphere.

8. When did Spain begin to lose her hold on Mexico?
(a) The end of the 17th Century.
(b) The end of the 16th Century.
(c) The middle of the 19th Century.
(d) The early 19th Century.

9. According to Jorge Cuesta, how has Mexico created herself?
(a) With an eye toward preventing civil war.
(b) With no regard for the common people.
(c) In opposition to her past.
(d) In agreement with her past.

10. What has history demonstrated through certain Contra authors such as Isaac Deutscher?
(a) Once abundance is achieved, the state will become democratic.
(b) Once abundance is achieved, the state will become socialistic.
(c) No class ever voluntarily gives up its privileges.
(d) It is extremely difficult for one class to make advancements for itself.

11. Who was Emiliano Zapata?
(a) The military leader in Diaz's regime.
(b) The replacement in Diaz's regime.
(c) The first leader of the Revolution.
(d) The leader of the Revolution of the South.

12. When Paz sees that Mexicans return to their tradition, what do they remember?
(a) That their tradition is mostly Indian.
(b) That they do not belong to a greater universal tradition.
(c) That they are part of Spain's tradition.
(d) That their tradition is rooted in conquest and slavery.

13. On what does Paz blame "the rather zigzag progress of the state"? Chapter Eight, page 181).
(a) The struggle between capitalist ideals and socialism.
(b) The conflict between national capitalism and international capitalism.
(c) The necessity of making revolutionary ideals work for practical living.
(d) The difficulty of dealing with a large work force.

14. What was an important element of all ancient cultures?
(a) Religion.
(b) Historical records.
(c) Familial relationships.
(d) Military superiority.

15. What happened to the people annexed by greater world powers?
(a) They became passive in the world sphere.
(b) The material gains that they made balanced the loss of voice.
(c) They became more active in the world sphere.
(d) They were forgotten.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is one factor that drives world markets?

2. What did the Revolution force the Mexican people to do?

3. According to Paz, who is most fascinated by death?

4. How did the Independence movement begin in South America?

5. In Paz's argument, how have tradition and religion always been presented to the Mexicans?

(see the answer keys)

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